An Easter Sunday gathering in St. Bernard, Louisiana, turned into a scene of tragedy, leaving two women dead and a family torn apart. On the evening of April 5, 2026, 55-year-old Trenelle Major Collins was shot and killed, along with her 75-year-old mother, Mary Major. The incident, which took place in the 2200 block of Centennial Drive, shattered the peace of the holiday and launched a multi-state manhunt for the sole suspect.
The violence reportedly began with a verbal argument between
Trenelle Collins and her 22-year-old son, Lee Collins III. The dispute escalated, and Mary Major attempted to intervene. At that point, Lee Collins III is alleged to have retrieved a gun and opened fire on both his mother and grandmother. He also reportedly fired a shot at his father, but missed.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, Lee Collins III fled the scene. He is said to have stolen a white 2019 Ford stake-bed truck from a nearby business and was tracked heading towards Mississippi. The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office issued a bulletin, describing him as armed and dangerous. The search for Collins ended the following day, April 6, when he was apprehended in Mobile, Alabama. Reports indicate that he was taken into custody at a mental health facility after staff there realized he had provided a false name.
Lee Collins III, who was reported to have no prior criminal history, was awaiting extradition back to St. Bernard Parish to face two counts of second-degree murder. The community and family members were left in shock, struggling to understand what led to such a violent outburst from a young man described as having a close-knit relationship with his family.
